Terminal block assembly



1969 w. F. JACKSON ET AL 3,482,206

TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1967 FIGZ 4 6O 44 261x 2? 46 3s58 |o 54 I] 42.

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WILBUR F JACKSON 8 JOHN W. WRIGHT 5M am ATTEYS United States Patent3,482,206 TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY Wilbur F. Jackson, Rolling Hills, andJohn W. Wright, Long Beach, Calif., assignors to Robertshaw ControlsCompany, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 25, 1967,Ser. No. 677,911 Int. Cl. H01r 9/16 US. Cl. 339-198 7 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A T-shaped dielectric terminal block having threeadjoining, partitioned, recessed portions formed axially on its outerside, the center portion being in the block leg and in parallel relationwith the coextensive outer portions in the block head and housing aconductor strip in converting the block from a two terminal to a threeterminal assembly with a self-locking fastener manually positionedthrough aligned openings in the strip and the block side for mountingthe strip; the strip having a lip on one end lockingly engaging anundercut shoulder in the block and having an outstanding opposing endconstituting a push-on connection and supporting a screw type connectionintermediate its ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While there are different types of terminalblock assemblies used in various and differing electrical arrangements,most known terminal block units are made to be used with just one setup.Somewhat different manufacturing techniques must be employed fordifferent production setups to tailor the terminal assemblies to theparticular needs and requirements. For example, a two terminal blockarrangement dilfers materially from a three terminal arrangement. Thus,if a customer originally specified a two terminal arrangement and thenrequires a three terminal one, considerable labor and material costs areinvolved in making the alteration or change.

For this reason, it is known in the art to utilize a terminal blockwhereby an initially determined and mounted circuit arrangement can bemodified to meet most contingencies encountered during plant assembly.However, such terminal blocks and the associated terminal conductors orconnectors are not easily modified and their very individual andcooperative structural natures necessitate that any changeover ormodification be accomplished under plant assembly conditions atappreciable labor and material costs. It is necessary that factorytrained labor, using tools of the trade, effect the changeover withmaterials similar to original production materials. Further, it is notpossible, under usual conditions, that even skilled labor can make theconversion in the field.

In an effort to overcome the labor and material costs and to permitchangeovers to be carried out in the field or place of use, it has beenproposed, especially in the instance of conversions from two terminal tothree terminal arrangements, to fabricate the terminal block originallywith three terminals, the third terminal being incorporated in the blockso that it can be selectively employed. In most instances, the thirdterminal is retractable in the block. However, the terminal assemblyshould, in its original design, be of a very simple, compact andrelatively inexpensive nature for it is quite likely that the need ordesire for conversion or addition will not occur. Therefore, in usingsuch a concept, it can be appreciated that higher costs, which may notin operation be warranted, are involved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,compact and inexpensive terminal block assembly of the add-on type ismade initially to satisfy, in a highly efiicient manner, the originalworking requirements and to be easily modified under field conditions byunskilled personnel without usage of tools and expensive materials so asto accommodate supplemental or additional circuit arrangements. Whilethis objective is not restricted to two/ three terminal blockarrangements, it is particularly realized in the plant or fieldconversion of an initial two terminal assembly to a readily useablethree terminal assembly. Also, instead of a cooperative third terminalin the terminal assembly, the modification can be effected simply forthe reason of providing a convenience terminal for easily connecting twoor more external wires which are not tied in with the specificutilization circuitry of the terminal block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal blockwhich has a side or wall formed in a compact way for housing originallymounted terminal conductors and for accommodating, without sacrificingthe original compactness or interfering with the initial terminalarrangement, one or more additional terminal conductors that are mountedthereon in a very simple and convenient but effective mounting fashionthrough the use of selflocking, manually insertable, fastener clips.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an add-onterminal in the form of a conductor bar or strip having an openingtherein and to provide an aperture in the mounting side of the terminalblock with which the opening is alignable for the common reception of apush-in fastener clip that is manually pushed through the strip openinginto the block aperture and has a self-locking shank portion foranchoring engagement with the block and an enlarged end to captivelyoverlie the strip, whereby a terminal conductor can be quickly andeasily attached to the terminal block at any time by any unskilledpersonnel.

In practicing the present invention, a simple and compact terminal blockstructure is provided with an outer mounting wall or side for theaccommodation of terminal conductors in the form of flat bars or strips,the side being formed with adjoining parallel recessed portionsseparated by barrier walls with each recessed portion serving as ahousing for accommodating a terminal conductor strip; the block isespecially designed in a planar T-shape having three recessed portionswith the outer portions being in laterally spaced relationship in thehead portion of the T-shaped block and housing the more or lesspermanent t-wo terminal strips of a two terminal arrangement and withthe center recessed portion being in the leg portion of the T-shapedblock to accommodate the added-on third terminal strip, the centralrecessed portion being disposed in axially ofiset staggered and parallelrelation with the outer portions.

These and ancillary objects, including the provision of an extremelysimple, inexpensive and. convenient but highly effective and durableterminal block assembly, are attained by this invention, the preferredembodiment of which is set forth in the following description andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theterminal block assembly showing the housing arrangement for the terminalconductors with portions of the separating walls broken away to showmore clearly the seating arrangement for the add-on terminal conductor,the housing arrangement in this illustrated instance, being for a twoterminal arrangement that is convertible into a three terminalarrangement;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of thecenter recessed portion of the terminal block showing the add-on thirdterminal conductor strip mounted on the block;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the add-on third terminal conductorstrip, per se; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially on line 44 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the accompanying drawing, the numeral generally designates adielectric terminal block which is of planar T-shaped, having a largetransverse head portion 12 and a central longitudinally extending legportion 14. The block 10 has an outer side or mounting wall 16 providedwith three adjoining and parallel recessed portions 18, and 22. Theouter recessed portions 18 and 22 are formed axially of the block andare disposed in the head portion 12. Barrier walls 24 integrally upstandfrom the side 16 to define the recessed portions with the side andseparate the outer recessed portions from the central recessed portion20 which is in staggered, longitudinally offset relation with thecoextensively extending outer recessed portions 18 and 22 and isdisposed in the leg portion 14 of the block. A common end wall 26upstands from the outer end of the head portion 12 and forms a back wallfor the recessed portions, the barrier walls 24 and end wall 26 being inintegral association and having coplanar outer edges in their integraloutstanding relation with the block side 16.

The sections of the block side 16 Within the outer recessed portions 18and 22 provide mounting seats for the terminal conductor bars or strips28 that are housed in the outer portions in an identical more or lesspermanent fashion and are of similar construction. Each terminal strip28 supports a terminal screw 30 adjacent one end for the attachment of alead connection to the terminal and has its opposing end portion 32 bentoutwardly at right angles from the block side 16 and in inwardly spacedparallel relation with the end wall 26 to receive an external push-ontype connector. A fastening pin 34 secures the terminal conductors 28 onthe block side 16.

The terminal conductors 28 positioned in the outer recessed portions 18and 22 constitute the terminal block as a two terminal block assemblythat functions in any two terminal setup with the barrier walls 24preventing arcing. In such setup, the center recessed portion is leftvoid, as it appears in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to add a supplemental or convenience circuit to theterminal block, as in the instance of converting the terminal blockassembly from. a thusly provided two terminal assembly to a threeterminal assembly, an add-on or third terminal conductor 36 is provided,as shown in FIG. 3, to be mounted in the central recessed portion 20, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The substantially flat rectangular conductor strip 36 has opposingfaces, one of which is adapted to rest in the elongated seat 38 providedin the block side 16 within the central recessed portion 20. The seat 38is formed at one end with a cavity 40 having an outer end wall 42,formed at its outer edge with an undercut shoulder 44, which constitutesa locking shoulder on the part of the block side 16 within the centralrecessed portion for interlocking engagement with the conductor strip36. The opposite end of the seat 38 is vertically confronted in spacedfashion by the inwardly protruding center section 26a of the end wall26.

The conductor strip 36 has an opening 46 formed therethrough and throughits opposing faces with the opening being alignable with an aperture 48provided in the part of the block side 16 within the central recessedportion. A fastener clip 50 is provided and has a resilient bifurcatedshank portion 52 and an enlarged head 54. The legs of the bifurcatedshank portion, which are pushed through 4 the aligned opening andaperture, are formed with laterally outstanding locking shoulders 56that are adapted to anchor under the block side 16 adjacent the aperture48 with the head 54 captively overlying the outer face of the conductorstrip 36 to mount it in place.

The conductor strip 36 is formed at one end with an axially prolongatedlocking lip 58 that projects longitudinally in a plane parallel to andbelow the plane of the positioned strip for positioning under andengagement with the shoulder 44, as shown in FIG. 2, to thereby assistthe locking pin or clip 50 in anchoring the conductor 36 in place. Thelocking clip 50 is positioned adjacent the end of the conductor strip 36opposite the lip end so as to cant the lip 58 in its interlockingengagement with the shoulder 44.

The conductor strip 36 is provided in the part thereof overlying thecavity 40 with a threaded opening 58 that passes through the opposingfaces of the strip to receive a terminal screw 60, which is adapted tohave an appropriate lead connector curled under the head thereof. Theopposing end portion 62 of the conductor strip is bent outwardly atright angles to the conductor strip so as to outstand normal to theouter face of the strip and has a tapered outer face end for thereception of an external push-on type connector. Thus, the mountedterminal conductor 36 can be used for a screw-type connection or as apush-on connection type terminal.

The terminal conductor 36 can be easily mounted in position by utilizingthe fastener clip 50, as can be appreciated from a consideration ofFIGS. 1 and 3, with the assemblage being effected by any untrainedperson without employing any tools. The converted arrangement isaccomplished in a most facile manner by inserting the conductor strip 36endwise in the recessed portion 20 until the lip 58 is caught under theshoulder 44 and the strip is laid fiat on the seat 38 with the opening46 and aperture 48 in alignment. The clip 50 is then manually held andpushed through the aligned opening and aperture into its locked relationwith the block 10.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations andchanges in detail, it is intended that all matter contained in theforegoing description or shown on the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal block assembly comprising a dielectric terminal blockhaving a well, said wall having an outer exposed mounting surfaceprovided with spaced separate recessed portions,

a terminal conductor strip adapted to be mounted in one of the recessedportions and fixedly positioned on the Wall surface,

said wall having an aperture formed therein within said recessedportion,

said strip having opposing faces and having an opening formed thereinand through the faces, said strip being superimposed on the wall surfacewith the opening aligned with the aperture in the wall,

a fastener having a shank portion adapted to be pushed through theaperture and the opening,

locking means carried by the shank portion for selfanchoring engagementwith the wall,

an enlarged end on the shank portion to overlie one face of the stripand hold the other face on the wall surface,

electrical connection means carried by the conductor strip,

said wall and said strip being provided with interlocking meansconjunctively operative with the fastener to anchor the strip on theWall surface and said interlocking means including an undercut shoulderon the wall and an axially prolongated ofiset lip on one end of thestrip lockingly engageable under the shoulder.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said wall surface isformed with integral normally outstanding partition walls, saidpartition walls being disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation andconstituting barriers defining and separating the recessed portions,said recessed portions being in laterally spaced, parallel relation.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein a common end wall isprovided for the recessed portions and is integral With the wall surfaceand projects perpendicularly therefrom at right angles to the partitionwalls and is integral with the partition walls at one of the endsthereof and is disposed transversely of the partition walls and the axisof the recessed portions to cooperate with the partition walls and thewall surface in defining the recessed portions.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said electricalconnection means includes an integral end portion on said conductorstrip, said end portion being substantially perpendicularly offset fromthe plane of the anchored strip and having a tapered free end andconstituting a push-on connection.

5. A terminal block assembly comprising a dielectric terminal blockhaving a wall, said wall having an outer exposed mounting surfaceprovided with spaced separate recessed portions,

a terminal conductor strip adapted to be mounted in one of the recessedportions and fixedly positioned on the wall surface,

said wall having an aperture formed therein within said recessedportion,

said strip having opposing faces and having an opening formed thereinand through the faces, said strip being superimposed on the wall surfacewith the opening aligned with the aperture in the wall,

a fastener having a shank portion adapted to be pushed through theaperture and the opening,

locking means carried by the shank portion for selfanchoring engagementwith the wall,

an enlarged end on the shank portion to overlie one face of the stripand hold the other face on the Wall surface,

electrical connection means carried by the conductor strip,

said wall surface having a cavity in the recessed portion and underlyinga part of the strip intermediate the ends thereof, means defining athreaded opening through the said part of the strip, a terminal screwadapted to be threaded into said opening for holding a connector leadcurled under its head,

said fastener having its anchored shank portion disposed parallel to andon one side of the terminal screw along the longitudinal axis of thestrip and said strip having an end portion disposed on the opposite sideof the screw, said end portion terminating in an underlying axiallyprolongated lip, said wall having an undercut shoulder lying below theplane in which the strip lies on the wall surface and formed at one endof the cavity, and said lip being positioned in the cavity and lockinglyengaging under the shoulder to cooperate with the fastener in anchoringthe strip on the wall surface.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said strip has anopposing end portion substantially perpendicularly offset from the planeof the positioned strip and having a free end and constituting a push-onconnection.

7. A terminal block assembly comprising a dielectric terminal blockhaving a wall, said wall having an outer exposed mounting surfaceprovided with spaced separate recessed portions,

a terminal conductor strip adapted to be mounted in one of the recessedportions and fixedly positioned on the wall surface,

said wall having an aperture formed therein within said recessedportion,

said strip having opposing faces and having an opening formed thereinand through the faces, said strip being superimposed on the wall surfacewith the opening aligned with the aperture in the wall,

a fastener having a shank portion adapted to be pushed through theaperture and the opening,

locking means carried by the shank portion for selfanchoring engagementwith the wall,

an enlarged end on the shank portion to overlie one face of the stripand hold the other face on the Wall surface,

electrical connection means carried by the conductor strip,

said wall surface being provided with three elongated recessed portionsincluding outer portions and a center portion, partition wallsintegrally outstanding from the wall surface perpendicular thereto andarranged in spaced parallel relation separating and defining with thewall surface the recessed portions, a transversely arranged common endwall formed integral with and perpendicular to the wall surface andintegral with the partition walls and disposed at one of the ends of therecessed portions, said block being of planar T-shape with the centerrecessed portion being in axially staggered relation to the outerrecessed portions and formed along the leg portion of the block, andsaid outer recessed portions being formed in the head portion of theblock.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,612 1/1934 Massey 3392,221,710 11/1940 Johnson 339217 2,408,556 10/ 1946 Hasenwinkle 339-1963,394,340 7/1968 Kobryner 339-217 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,111,261 7/ 1961Germany.

865,695 4/ 1961 Great Britain.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner

